Expert: Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner - 11/9/2004

Question
-Thanks for writing, but if you are thinking of converting to Islam then you should be studying the differences between Islam and Christianity and not involve Judaism at all.

***WHY??? I already KNOW that Islam is 1000 times more logical than Christianity. I've given up on Christianity and its contradictory beliefs. Why should I not involve Judaism? Why doesn't your religion seek converts? If you truly beleive your religion is correct then don't you want to share your special knowledge with others? I know Jews are generally very smart and that's why I'm asking what Judaism has to offer that Islam doesn't.

-We would teach that whatever religion you choose that encourages you to respect every other human being, keeps you from harming any other person in any fashion, that would be a religion worthy of divine blessing.

-It would appear from your questions you are searching for specific "advantages" or rewards for following one religion or another, and it seems to me that when each of them promises heaven or the like, it is an article of faith. No one can prove that they will secure a place in heaven - whatever that is.

***I just don't want to be in a religion like Jehowa's witnesses or Evangelical Christians where they belief only they go to heaven and the rest go to hell. I am looking for a reward in paradise when I die and that's a big reason I'm asking these questions. OK,question:
Do Jews even believe in heaven and hell? What's this "whatever that is". Is there no mention of heaven and hell in the Hebrew Bible? Is that just in the New Testament and the Koran?

-Jews do not accept Jesus as the messiah and perhaps he might have been a teacher. We don't believe that the messiah has been recently born and many of us prefer to await a messianic age which we all can help to bring about by doing good works, respecting others and acting as stewards for this earth.

***So according to Judaism, Jesus was perhaps a teacher. Jesus is not a prophet according to Judaism, right?

-I would suggest that if you are interested in Judaism, speak with a local Rabbi. Otherwise, be blessed in your pursuit of Islam and work to bring peace to the world through respect rather than violence and conquest. We can all be right and agree to disagree on some minor points agreeably, leaving it ultimately to God to decide when we die.

*** I'm in Poland right now and, I'm sure you know there aren't too many Rabbi's around. So please, if you could just respond to my questions I would greatly appreciate it. You give some very interesting responses.

Best wishes,
Marek  

Answer
Dear Marek,

I apreciate your responses and questioning.


There is no mention of heaven or hell in the Hebrew Bible.

I wish I could tell you definitively that if you are a good Jew you will definitively go to heave and paradise as a reward. There are some Rabbis who have taught reward and punishment as absolutely true over the centuries. Other Rabbis and scholars have felt that all we can know at this point is this world, leaving a post-death condition to the time when we die and experience whatever comes after death; it is an unknown. And there are a variety of opinions in between.

If you wish an absolute such as Christianity or Islam offer, then the choice for you is quite clear.

Jesus was not a prophet, right.

It would appear to me that if books are insufficient, then you'll have to seek out instruction as best possible. This Q&A is not intended for such an in-depth instruction and certainly not for those seeking to change their religious affiliation.

I wish you only luck and best wishes

Rabbi Dov